Three-position diverter valve

ABSTRACT

A three-position diverter valve having a longitudinal stem with opposite actuating and operating ends, and a body member defining at least one inlet aperture and first and second outlet apertures. The actuating end defines a plug with a pair of O-rings attached thereto. The plug can be selectively positioned to: (1) block water entering the at least one inlet aperture; (2) permit fluid (i.e. water) communication between the at least one inlet aperture and the first outlet aperture; and (3) permit fluid communication between the at least one inlet aperture and the second outlet aperture.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a three-position diverter valve apparatus for use with home tub-shower systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As noted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,582 there are various diverter valves known in the art.

For example, the Grohe diverter valve includes a housing that has two inlets for hot and cold water respectively and a plurality of outlets communicating with the two inlet pipes by means of a cylindrical rotating seal means having alternate holes for communicating with the various outlet pipes of the diverter valve. In this invention, a generally cylindrical seal is rotated around a vertical axis. The vertically rising surface of the cylindrical seal means contains outlet holes for communicating the water from the inlet pipes with the outlet pipes. In this mechanism, the incoming water does not affect the position of the vertically rising cylindrical seal.

Another example of a diverter valve is provided by Boccini which has a cylindrically rotating valve activated by a vertically movable piston.

Whatever the merits of the prior art diverter valves there is a need for a diverter valve that enables a user to turn water off or on without first having to turn the hot and/or cold supply off or on, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a three-position diverter valve according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the three-position diverter valve shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a lengthwise sectional view of the three-position diverter valve shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the three-position diverter valve of FIG. 1 in the off position.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the three-position diverter valve of FIG. 1 set to deliver water out of a second outlet aperture.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show the three-position diverter valve of FIG. 1 set to deliver water out of a first outlet aperture.

FIG. 10 shows a table listing part numbers.

FIG. 11 shows a close up view of the actuating end of a stem member.

FIG. 12 shows a close up view of one end of a body member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A three-position diverter valve having a longitudinal stem with opposite actuating and operating ends, and a body member defining at least one inlet aperture and first and second outlet apertures. The actuating end defines a plug with a pair of O-rings attached thereto. The plug can be selectively positioned to: (1) block water entering the at least one inlet aperture; (2) permit fluid (i.e. water) communication between the at least one inlet aperture and the first outlet aperture; and (3) permit fluid communication between the at least one inlet aperture and the second outlet aperture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a three-position diverter valve for use with home tub and shower systems. The three-position diverter valve of the invention is denoted generally by the numeric label “100”.

Referring to the Figures in general including Table 1 (FIG. 10) that lists part numbers, the three-position diverter valve 100 comprises a stem member 120 and a body member 140. The stem member 120 is generally an elongated shaft having an operating end 160 and an actuating end 180. The stem member 120 is shaped into a plug 190 at the actuating end 180. A portion of the external surface 200 of the stem member 120 is lined with an external thread 220. The stem member 120 is normally threaded into the body member 140.

The body member 140 has open front and rear ends 260 and 280 with a hollow through bore 300 interposed between the front and rear ends 260 and 280. The bore 300 defines an interior bore surface 310. At least one inlet aperture 320 is located proximate to the rear end 280 of the body member 140. A first outlet aperture 340 is located at a point between the at least one inlet aperture 320 and the front end 260. The rear end 280 defines a second outlet aperture 360.

During normal operation of the three-position diverter valve 100, the stem member 120 is disposed coaxially at least partly within body member 140, and the stem member 120 is rotated by means of a handle H. More specifically, stem member 120 is disposed longitudinally in bore 300 of body member 140. In more detail, body member 140 defines a section of internal thread 380 on the internal surface bore 300. The internal thread 380 complements external thread 220 located on stem member 120. By means of threads 220 and 380 the stem member 120 can be moved longitudinally back and forth inside bore 300 by rotating the operating end 160 of stem member 120 whereupon stem member 120 moves backwards out of end 260 or forwards towards end 280 of body member 140. Rotation of the operating end 160 can be achieved by means of a handle H attached to operating end 160 of stem member 120.

With the stem member 120 disposed longitudinally in bore 300 of body member 140 the cross-section of the bore 300 is sufficient to provide a passageway between the at least one inlet aperture 320 and first outlet aperture 340. The bore 300 also provides a passageway between the at least one inlet aperture 320 and second outlet aperture 360.

The plug 190 is provided with first and second annular grooves 400 and 420, which circle plug 190. The first and second annular grooves 400 and 420 respectively receive and retain first and second O-rings 440 and 460 such that O-rings 440 and 460 circle plug 190. The first and second O-rings 440 and 460 provide a tight water seal between the plug 190 and the interior bore surface 310 of bore 300 to prevent dripping.

The gap g (see FIG. 11) between the first and second annular grooves 400 and 420, and hence the gap between the first and second O-rings 440 and 460, is slightly larger than the width w of the at least one inlet aperture 320 (see FIG. 12) such that by turning handle H the O-rings 440 and 460 can be positioned with an O-ring on both sides of the at least one aperture 320 as shown in FIG. 5. More specifically, first and second O-rings 440 and 460 can be respectively positioned between the at least one inlet aperture 320 and first outlet aperture 340, and between the at least one aperture 320 and the second outlet aperture 360.

Either or both of first and second O-rings 440 and 460 can be made out of an elastomeric material such that the first and second O-rings 440 and 460 can be stretch fitted to fit securely into first and second annular grooves 400 and 420, respectively. Alternatively, the first and second O-rings 440 and 460 can be glued to first and second annular grooves 400 and 420, respectively. The first and second O-rings 440 and 460 provide a water tight seal between the rear end 180 of stem member 120 and the interior bore surface 310 of bore 300 at the rear end 280 of body member 140.

The O-rings 440 and 460 can be can be made out of any suitable material such as, but not limited to: nitrile (NBR or Buna-N), silicone (VMQ), Viton® fluoroelastomer, Kalrez® (perfuoroelastomer), fluorosilicone (FVMQ), ethylene propylene (e.g., EPM, EPDM, EP, EPR), polychloroprene (e.g., neoprene), and/or polyurethane. The O-rings 440 and 460 can have any suitable cross-section shape such as, but not limited to: a circular cross-section shape, a regular polygonal shape (e.g., square or rectangular cross-section shape), irregular polygonal shape.

During normal operation of the three-position diverter valve 100 the operating end 160 of stem member 120 extends from the front end 260 of the body member 140. The operating end 160 of the stem member 120 is adapted to receive and be rotated by handle H (shown, e.g., in FIG. 5).

By rotating the operating end 160 a user can select any of three operating positions wherein: (1) water is directed from the at least one inlet aperture 320 and out of the first outlet aperture 340 of the main body 140, (2) water is directed from the at least one inlet aperture 320 and out of the second outlet aperture 360 in rear end 280 of the main body 140, or (3) water is prevented from entering the at least one inlet aperture 320 thereby preventing water being directed out of either the first outlet aperture 340 or the second outlet aperture 360.

A ring seal 520 is fitted around the stem 120 without hindering the back and forth movement of the stem 120 when the operating end 160 is rotated (typically via a handle H). The ring seal 520 in combination with the threads 220 and 380 help ensure water does not leak from the front end 260 of the body member 140.

An optional nut 540 is fitted to the front end 260 of the body member 140. The optional end nut 540 has a through bore of sufficient diameter to allow the stem member 120 to fit coaxially within body member 140 without hindering the rotation of the stem member 120.

By rotating operating end 160 of the stem member 120, the plug 190 and the first and second O-rings located thereon can be selectively positioned as follows: (1) plug 190 and first and second O-rings 440 and 460 located thereon are positioned between the at least one inlet aperture 320 and the first outlet aperture 340 of body member 140 thereby directing water flow entering through the at least one inlet aperture 320 to and out of the second outlet aperture 360 at the rear end 280 of the main body 140; (2) plug 190 and first and second O-rings 440 and 460 located thereon are positioned between the at least one inlet aperture 320 and the second outlet aperture 360 at the rear end 280 of body member 140 thereby directing water flow entering through the at least one inlet aperture 320 to and out of the first outlet aperture 340; and (3) plug 190 is positioned to block water entry through the at least one inlet aperture 320 such that first O-ring 440 is positioned between the at least one inlet aperture 320 and the first outlet aperture 340 while the second O-ring 460 is positioned between the at least one inlet aperture 320 and the second outlet aperture 360 at the rear end 280 of body member 140 thereby blocking water passage between the at least one inlet aperture 320 to both outlet apertures 340 and 360.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 show the three-position diverter valve 100 of FIG. 1 in the off position. More specifically, water is blocked from entering the main body member 140 via the at least one inlet aperture 320 when the plug 190 (not visible in FIGS. 4 and 5, but shown in, e.g., FIG. 3) is positioned alongside inlet aperture 320 such that first O-ring 440 is positioned between the at least one inlet aperture 320 and the first outlet aperture 340 and the second O-ring 460 is positioned between the at least one inlet aperture 320 and the second outlet aperture 360.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, water can enter the at least one inlet aperture 320 and thence travel to and exit from the second outlet aperture 360 when the plug 190 (not visible in FIGS. 6 and 7, but shown in, e.g., FIG. 3) and first and second O-rings 440 and 460 are selectively positioned between the at least one inlet aperture 320 and the first outlet aperture 340 of body member 140. More specifically, water is blocked from passing through the first outlet aperture 340 when the plug 190 and first and second O-rings 440 and 460 are selectively positioned between the at least one inlet aperture 320 and the first outlet aperture 340 of body member 140.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, water can enter the at least one inlet aperture 320 and thence travel to and exit from the first outlet aperture 340 when the plug 190 (not visible in FIGS. 8 and 9, but shown in, e.g., FIG. 3) and first and second O-rings 440 and 460 are selectively positioned between the at least one inlet aperture 320 and the second outlet aperture 360 of body member 140. More specifically, water is blocked from passing through the second outlet aperture 360 when the plug 190 and first and second O-rings 440 and 460 are selectively positioned between the at least one inlet aperture 320 and the second outlet aperture 360 of body member 140.

Referring in turn to each of the Figures with regard to which the meaning of labels and numbers shown in the Figures are described in Table 1 (see FIG. 10).

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the three-position diverter valve 100. Explanation of the part numbers shown in FIG. 1 are found in Table 1, which is shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the three-position diverter valve 100 shown in FIG. 1. Explanations of the part numbers shown in FIG. 2 are found in Table 1, which is shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 3 shows a lengthwise sectional view of the three-position diverter valve 100 shown in FIG. 1. Explanations of the part numbers shown in FIG. 3 are found in Table 1, which is shown in FIG. 10.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the three-position diverter valve 100 of FIG. 1 in the off position. More specifically, water is blocked from entering the main body member 140 via the at least one inlet aperture 320 when the plug 190 (not visible in FIGS. 4 and 5, but shown in, e.g., FIG. 3) is positioned alongside inlet aperture 320 such that first O-ring 440 is positioned between the at least one inlet aperture 320 and the first outlet aperture 340 and the second O-ring 460 is positioned between the at least one inlet aperture 320 and the second outlet aperture 360. Explanation of the part numbers shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are found in Table 1, which is shown in FIG. 10.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the three-position diverter valve 100 of FIG. 1 set to deliver water out of the first outlet aperture 340. More specifically, water can enter the at least one inlet aperture 320 and thence travel to and exit from the first outlet aperture 340 when the plug 190 (not visible in FIGS. 6 and 7, but shown in, e.g., FIG. 3) and first and second O-rings 440 and 460 are both selectively positioned by rotating end 160 between the at least one inlet aperture 320 and the second outlet aperture 360 of body member 140. More specifically, water is blocked from traveling to and exiting from the second outlet aperture 360 when plug 190 and first and second O-rings 440 and 460 located on plug 190 are positioned between the at least one inlet aperture 320 and the second outlet aperture 360 of body member 140. Explanation of the part numbers shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are found in Table 1, which is shown in FIG. 10.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show the three-position diverter valve 100 of FIG. 1 set to deliver water out of the second outlet aperture 360. More specifically, water can enter the at least one inlet aperture 320 and thence travel to and exit out through the second outlet aperture 360 when plug 190 (not visible in FIGS. 8 and 9, but shown in, e.g., FIG. 3) and first and second O-rings 440 and 460 located around plug 190 are both selectively positioned between the at least one inlet aperture 320 and the first outlet aperture 340 of body member 140. More specifically, water is blocked from passing through the first outlet aperture 340 when the plug 190 and first and second O-rings 440 and 460 are positioned between the at least one inlet aperture 320 and the first outlet aperture 340 of body member 140. Explanation of the part numbers shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are found in Table 1, which is shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 shows a table listing part numbers.

The gap g (see FIG. 11) between the first and second annular grooves 400 and 420, and hence the gap between the first and second O-rings 440 and 460, is slightly larger than the width w of the at least one inlet aperture 320 (see FIG. 12) such that by turning handle H the O-rings 440 and 460 can be positioned with an O-ring on both sides of the at least one aperture 320 as shown in FIG. 5. More specifically, first and second O-rings 440 and 460 can be respectively positioned between the at least one inlet aperture 320 and first outlet aperture 340, and between the at least one aperture 320 and the second outlet aperture 360. Explanation of the part numbers shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 are found in Table 1, which is shown in FIG. 10.

The invention being thus described, it will be evident that the same may be varied in many ways by a routineer in the applicable arts. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the claims. 

1. A three-position diverter valve, comprising: a stem member in the form of an elongated shaft having an external surface, an operating end and an actuating end, wherein the actuating end widens to form a plug of generally cylindrical shape, a portion of said external surface is lined with an external thread, said plug is provided with first and second annular grooves, said annular grooves circle said plug, said first and second annular grooves respectively accommodate first and second O-rings such that said O-rings circle said plug, wherein said first and second O-rings define a gap with a predetermined gap-distance interposed between said first and second O-rings; and a body member having open front and rear ends, said body member comprising a hollow through bore interposed between said front and rear ends, said bore defines an interior bore surface, said body member defining at least one inlet aperture located proximate to the rear end of the body member, a first outlet aperture located at a point between the at least one inlet aperture and the front end of said body member, wherein the rear end of said body member defines a second outlet aperture, wherein a section of said interior bore surface defines an internal thread, wherein said at least one inlet aperture defines a width, wherein said gap-distance between said first and second O-rings is just greater than the width of said at least one inlet aperture, whereupon rotating the operating end of said stem member, the external thread of said stem member cooperatively engages with said internal thread on the internal surface of said through bore such that said stem member 120 can be selectively moved longitudinally back and for inside said bore thereby altering the position of said plug and said first and second O-rings such that the plug can selectively block fluid communication between said at least one inlet aperture and said first and second outlet apertures. 